Word for the Week

The gift of time

Week beginning: 20th November, 2016 | By James Brightwell | London

'Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.'

Ecclesiastes 11:6 (NIV)

These words, coming at the end of the writer's wisdom about God's great gift of life, remind us of the urgency of the tasks we have been given.

Even though we do not understand the mysteries of all of God's ways (Ecc 11:5), we can have confidence that in doing the tasks entrusted to us we will enable His will to be done. This will encompass not only professional responsibilities but also the way in which we respond to the people whom we encounter in life. This will involve both carrying out the everyday duties within our jobs assiduously as well as being aware of opportunities to speak and act in a way in which our faith will shine.

We will not win every case, even those we believe we should have won, or understand why some of those whose paths we cross are hostile to us. But we can have an assurance that God wants us to play our role fully today, however small it may be in His bigger plans.

Prayer Points:

1. Pray that each of us may have a keen awareness of the fragility and beauty of life and a desire to carry out God's purposes with that gift, without too much delay.2. Give thanks for the opportunity to come alongside young lawyers and students with the Essential Truths programme. Pray for all those meeting around this resource that it will encourage them to be salt and light in the profession.